Sunday, February 21, 2010

CLEMSON 72,VIRGINIA 49 – Jerai Grant tied a career best with 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting as Clemson beat Virginia on Saturday.

The Tigers (19-7, 7-5 ACC) never trailed in this one, finishing a three-game homestand perfect to state their case for an NCAA bid and move back into the top half of the ACC.

Clemson shot 51.9 percent and made 12 of 13 free throws.The freefall continues for Virginia (14-11, 5-7), who lost its fourth game in seven days and is 2-6 since first-year coach Tony Bennett opened with three ACC wins in a row.

The Cavaliers shot just 35 percent from the field, were 2 of 13 on 3-pointers and put up at least five airballs. It was the fourth straight game they've shot under 38 percent overall.

N.C. STATE 69,NO. 23 WAKE FOREST 54 – Sid’s Kids hadn't won an ACC game since they upset of Duke on Jan. 20. Six of the Wolfpack’s seven league losses since had come by at least nine points with two against struggling rival UNC, which has just three league victories.

None the less, Farnold Degand hit two 3-pointers in the decisive second-half run that helped the Wolfpack beat Wake Forest on Saturday, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Tracy Smith scored 14 points to lead the Wolfpack (15-13, 3-10), who led the entire game but needed three straight 3s from Degand and Javi Gonzalez with about 6 minutes left to get firm control.

N.C. State has now beaten the Demon Deacons (18-7, 8-5) five straight in Raleigh.

BOSTON COLLEGE 71,NORTH CAROLINA 67 – Reggie Jackson, making his first start of the season at point guard Saturday, scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half to lift the Eagles to a win over the struggling Tar Heels.

Jackson said Boston College focused all week on controlling North Carolina's fast-break offense.

Corey Raji had 16 points and Rakim Sanders added 14 for BC (13-13, 4-8 ACC) which won for the second time in six games.

Deon Thompson paced North Carolina (14-13, 3-9) with 17 points and nine rebounds. The Tar Heels, who shot 39 percent, lost their ninth in 11 games. It is the Tar Heels' worst stretch since losing 11 of 12 in 2001-02.

"It's a frustrating time for us, the most frustrating time I've ever had in coaching, there's no question about that," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "Some way, somehow we gotta keep trying to do the best we can do."

WHERE IN THE WORLD...?

The way it is...

The way it was...

TAH DAMN GOOD CAUSE OF THE MONTH

NORTHERN HAITI HOPE FOUNDATION: After our recent trip to Haiti, we vowed to do more to help. Clean water is a critical issue for all Haitians. It's particularly problematic for those in rural areas. For $2,000 to $5,000 we can build a new well in a rural village as part of a program facilitated by the St. Barthelemy School and the Warrenton, VA Rotary. Send your donation to Wells of Health and Hope, c/o GPetty-VTA, 38 Garrett Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 and keep your eye on T.A.H. for progress reports. Thanks! CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MORE INFO.